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Joe Hunter #5
Blood and Ashes
Brooke Reynolds died in a car crash. Tragic accident, the police say. But her father Don Hoffman knows otherwise. And he wants Joe Hunter to find the men responsible. Joe is not convinced - until he is attacked by two troublemakers, and Don's other daughter is also threatened. Looks like more than coincidence. And sure enough, the entire family is soon under siege with only Joe to protect them. The ensuing blood bath is the beginning of a trail of death that leads right to the heart of a racist conspiracy. White supremacists want to hold the government to ransom; and they have got hold of a dirty bomb to add weight to their case. Joe is on countdown: can he stop the plotters before they reduce the free world to ashes?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2011
20 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Matt Hilton
88 books240 followersMatt Hilton worked for twenty-two years in private security and the police force in Cumbria. He is a 4th Dan blackbelt and coach in Ju-Jitsu. He lives in Cumbria with his wife and son.
Matt is the author of the best-selling Joe Hunter thriller series, as well as standalone horror thrillers and short stories that have appeared in a number of collections and anthologies. Matt's first novel - Dead Men's Dust - was a Sunday Times best-seller and was shortlisted for the ITW New Novel Award 2009.
Matt is the author of the best-selling Joe Hunter thriller series, as well as standalone horror thrillers and short stories that have appeared in a number of collections and anthologies. Matt's first novel - Dead Men's Dust - was a Sunday Times best-seller and was shortlisted for the ITW New Novel Award 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 11, 2016
Blood and Ashes is everything you want from a thriller, a Joe Hunter thriller at that, and (almost) nothing you don’t want. Not surprisingly, for a thriller series written by an Englishman, featuring an Englishman as hero, it’s probably the most American thriller in the series so far (for me, that is. There are more, the latest is number 20-or so, but I’m doing them in order and have reached here). There are touches of Bourne and Rapp, and thankfully, less Reacher.
A hell of a lot of the fluff that sometimes let the previous books down, has been vacuumed out and more importantly, the moaning old lady stuff from Hunter, is kept to an absolute minimum. Though saying tit that way, is perhaps wrong - it's just used more effectively. From the start, there's at least one blindingly interesting conundrum. Provoking in me, through him, a discussion about murder and 'justified' killing. On the face of it, the reader is going to think “Oh get on with it Hunter! You’re in no-name town in the middle of nowhere and they deserved to be killed!” Should he have killed them before knowing for certain what their intentions were? Yes, you, the reader knows what’s afoot, but Hunter doesn’t. He doesn't have the insider info you, the reader, has. Put yourself in his position at that moment in time and the moral problem is entirely justified. Realising that only endeared Hunter to me even more and was, I felt, worth the admission on its own.
As the character of Hunter has developed and the series has progressed, Hunter has begun looking back. To how he got where he is in life, how he became who or what he is. There are many references to a place called ‘Arrowsake' where he and Rink were trained. Interestingly, he seems to have previously thought Arrowsake made him a better person, now he's wondering/not sure it didn't make him worse. The Arrow-place taught him how to kill on demand, now he's 'free' he's questioning the validity. He's like Jason Bourne might have been, if he'd escaped the CIA, but hadn't had to go through the memory loss business. Hunter's memories of the events has always been there, it's only now he's beginning to listen to them and see his past for what it was.
The problem he needs to get over, is thinking too much for other people, forgetting or ignoring, his best practice, safest way, training. "Normal practice would see Rink move on while I covered him, but before he could do so, I went up the remaining stairs and into the hallway. It was bad enough that Rink had followed me to his possible doom, let alone allowing him to go first.” The surest way to kill Rink? Abandon your training. Rink is there because he wants to be. He could have said no. He's had the same training as Hunter. Hunter's saying in effect, he is trying to protect Rink, yet Hunter is the one putting Rink in danger! And if Hunter, through blind stupidity, gets killed, what then are Rink's chances? Better or worse? Sometimes he thinks too much. Sometimes he thinks too little. And he still wants to think for women. There’s still a little of the no killing the poor, defenceless, little women in pink frilly dresses, who don’t know what they’re doing because they’re women, nonsense left hung over from the last one. As it clearly makes him a liability to his comrades (as above), you’d have thought it’d either have been drilled out of him at this Arrowsake place, or Hunter would have been dumped out of the SAS or whatever it was that was training him there.
However, if you want a thriller series that thrills and is getting better with every book, look no further than Joe Hunter and Matt Hilton. An absolute hum-dinger.
More reviews, quite probably better than this, here: Speesh Reads
A hell of a lot of the fluff that sometimes let the previous books down, has been vacuumed out and more importantly, the moaning old lady stuff from Hunter, is kept to an absolute minimum. Though saying tit that way, is perhaps wrong - it's just used more effectively. From the start, there's at least one blindingly interesting conundrum. Provoking in me, through him, a discussion about murder and 'justified' killing. On the face of it, the reader is going to think “Oh get on with it Hunter! You’re in no-name town in the middle of nowhere and they deserved to be killed!” Should he have killed them before knowing for certain what their intentions were? Yes, you, the reader knows what’s afoot, but Hunter doesn’t. He doesn't have the insider info you, the reader, has. Put yourself in his position at that moment in time and the moral problem is entirely justified. Realising that only endeared Hunter to me even more and was, I felt, worth the admission on its own.
As the character of Hunter has developed and the series has progressed, Hunter has begun looking back. To how he got where he is in life, how he became who or what he is. There are many references to a place called ‘Arrowsake' where he and Rink were trained. Interestingly, he seems to have previously thought Arrowsake made him a better person, now he's wondering/not sure it didn't make him worse. The Arrow-place taught him how to kill on demand, now he's 'free' he's questioning the validity. He's like Jason Bourne might have been, if he'd escaped the CIA, but hadn't had to go through the memory loss business. Hunter's memories of the events has always been there, it's only now he's beginning to listen to them and see his past for what it was.
The problem he needs to get over, is thinking too much for other people, forgetting or ignoring, his best practice, safest way, training. "Normal practice would see Rink move on while I covered him, but before he could do so, I went up the remaining stairs and into the hallway. It was bad enough that Rink had followed me to his possible doom, let alone allowing him to go first.” The surest way to kill Rink? Abandon your training. Rink is there because he wants to be. He could have said no. He's had the same training as Hunter. Hunter's saying in effect, he is trying to protect Rink, yet Hunter is the one putting Rink in danger! And if Hunter, through blind stupidity, gets killed, what then are Rink's chances? Better or worse? Sometimes he thinks too much. Sometimes he thinks too little. And he still wants to think for women. There’s still a little of the no killing the poor, defenceless, little women in pink frilly dresses, who don’t know what they’re doing because they’re women, nonsense left hung over from the last one. As it clearly makes him a liability to his comrades (as above), you’d have thought it’d either have been drilled out of him at this Arrowsake place, or Hunter would have been dumped out of the SAS or whatever it was that was training him there.
However, if you want a thriller series that thrills and is getting better with every book, look no further than Joe Hunter and Matt Hilton. An absolute hum-dinger.
More reviews, quite probably better than this, here: Speesh Reads
February 5, 2011
There are three things you can depend on in life – Death, Taxes and increasing petrol prices! Following Matt Hilton’s fifth Joe Hunter instalment (Blood and Ashes) you can most certainly add a fourth! Hunter is back and someone will pay – you can take that to the bank!
When we first meet Joe Hunter in Blood and Ashes, our hero is coming to terms with his near fatal injuries sustained at the end of his exploits with Luke Rickard in “Cut and Run”. Shot and stabbed in his right leg he still, despite three months of intensive therapy, walks with a limp and together with a hand recovering from micro surgery, Hunter is a bruised man.
This is a very different Hunter. Insecure and fallible he questions himself throughout – is he doing the right thing, can he justify the deaths and will he hold himself accountable following its dénouement? With so much running through his mind, concentration doesn’t come easy for Joe and he has to remind himself of a mantra a training officer once told him:
“Stay in the Red Zone, Hunter, or you may as well give up now. Anything else and you’re a dead man. Got it?”
Driving along a deserted road near Bedford Well, Brook Reynolds is frantic with worry. Her concerns are justified when a Black SUV hurriedly approaches, overtakes her and disappears around the bend. She takes a breath, relaxes only to round the bend and find the unknown driver has blocked her path. The car accident doesn’t kill her – the stranger does.
Don Griffiths, a doting father and grandfather disagrees with police reports – convinced his daughter was killed, disagreeing with a police investigation that the car wreck was an accident he calls in Joe Hunter to find the people responsible for her untimely death.
Unconvinced, until he is himself attacked by two men, Hunter struggles to shake off his past and help Don, a man who had betrayed him in the past. However with a family in danger, Hunter does what he knows best and agrees to protect the family to his best abilities but with our hero questioning his every move, the journey is fraught with danger.
Comparing Hilton’s previous novels it’s fairly obvious Matt has changed his delivery and style. Blood and Ashes is a deeper, reflective novel and with the aid of his leading character, Hilton has matured. In past novels Hunter has been driven by anger but this time around he questions himself on numerous occasions, his weaknesses and inadequacies making our hero human – more realistic.
Ful Review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2011/02/04...
When we first meet Joe Hunter in Blood and Ashes, our hero is coming to terms with his near fatal injuries sustained at the end of his exploits with Luke Rickard in “Cut and Run”. Shot and stabbed in his right leg he still, despite three months of intensive therapy, walks with a limp and together with a hand recovering from micro surgery, Hunter is a bruised man.
This is a very different Hunter. Insecure and fallible he questions himself throughout – is he doing the right thing, can he justify the deaths and will he hold himself accountable following its dénouement? With so much running through his mind, concentration doesn’t come easy for Joe and he has to remind himself of a mantra a training officer once told him:
“Stay in the Red Zone, Hunter, or you may as well give up now. Anything else and you’re a dead man. Got it?”
Driving along a deserted road near Bedford Well, Brook Reynolds is frantic with worry. Her concerns are justified when a Black SUV hurriedly approaches, overtakes her and disappears around the bend. She takes a breath, relaxes only to round the bend and find the unknown driver has blocked her path. The car accident doesn’t kill her – the stranger does.
Don Griffiths, a doting father and grandfather disagrees with police reports – convinced his daughter was killed, disagreeing with a police investigation that the car wreck was an accident he calls in Joe Hunter to find the people responsible for her untimely death.
Unconvinced, until he is himself attacked by two men, Hunter struggles to shake off his past and help Don, a man who had betrayed him in the past. However with a family in danger, Hunter does what he knows best and agrees to protect the family to his best abilities but with our hero questioning his every move, the journey is fraught with danger.
Comparing Hilton’s previous novels it’s fairly obvious Matt has changed his delivery and style. Blood and Ashes is a deeper, reflective novel and with the aid of his leading character, Hilton has matured. In past novels Hunter has been driven by anger but this time around he questions himself on numerous occasions, his weaknesses and inadequacies making our hero human – more realistic.
Ful Review on my blog:- http://www.milorambles.com/2011/02/04...
May 1, 2013
People seem to compare Joe Hunter to Jack Reacher. I really couldn't say. I read the first Reacher novel, The Killing Floor I believe, and liked it well enough. Just not enough to read another.
The Joe Hunter novels are a different matter.
Joe Hunter comes to the aid of an old comrade he'd had a falling out with years ago. Joe had resisted at first, recovering from wounds he'd occurred in a fight in an earlier book: a knife and a bullet in one leg. But when he'd gotten word one of the man's daughters was dead, he'd come.
The official cause of death was a car accident and a shattered gas tank had set a fire. His old partner had insisted it was murdered and had emails to show it so, warning about who else would have to die.
An old enemy, long dead, maybe, his followers, a racist white organization, wanted revenge.
His old partner had another daughter and two grandchildren facing death and Joe resolutely plunges in to protect them.
But there's more going on than even Joe knows, which he soon begins to understand.
Author Hilton knows how to keep the action ramped up all the way to the finale at the Statue of Liberty.
Really enjoyed this one.
The Joe Hunter novels are a different matter.
Joe Hunter comes to the aid of an old comrade he'd had a falling out with years ago. Joe had resisted at first, recovering from wounds he'd occurred in a fight in an earlier book: a knife and a bullet in one leg. But when he'd gotten word one of the man's daughters was dead, he'd come.
The official cause of death was a car accident and a shattered gas tank had set a fire. His old partner had insisted it was murdered and had emails to show it so, warning about who else would have to die.
An old enemy, long dead, maybe, his followers, a racist white organization, wanted revenge.
His old partner had another daughter and two grandchildren facing death and Joe resolutely plunges in to protect them.
But there's more going on than even Joe knows, which he soon begins to understand.
Author Hilton knows how to keep the action ramped up all the way to the finale at the Statue of Liberty.
Really enjoyed this one.
July 29, 2011
Definately a thrill a minute following Joe Hunter in his 'mission' - Blood and Ashes took me a few days to read, because not a word should be missed in this excellent work by Matt Hilton. A fast paced thriller - will read more of Hilton's work and look forward to reading what he writes in the future.
February 20, 2018
It's a Joe Hunter novel - Think Jack Reacher but 200 less pages and more violence. Simple, straight forward and I can read one in about 3-4 days. Enjoyed it! NEXT
May 8, 2018
Another good read from matt Hilton, the series goes from strength to strength. recommended.
February 16, 2018
Joe Hunter has spent his life working for -- sometimes unknowingly -- a sort of global intelligence initiative called Arrowsake. He's semi-retired now, recuperating from wounds suffered in a previous mission. Then Don Griffiths, a man with whom he has a not-so-fond past while working with Arrowsake, calls him for help. Griffiths' daughter has died in a car accident, but he thinks it was murder, at the hands of a former Arrowsake target who's supposed to be dead. Joe at first doesn't believe Don, but events soon help him change his mind, and he's on the run with Don and his family, squaring off against a crew of violent hired killers who outnumber and outgun him about ten to one.
Blood and Ashes is the fifth Joe Hunter novel from former police officer and security consultant Matt Hilton, and follows in its predecessors' path of action, action, action and then a little more action. Although technically not 100% following his injuries, Joe has a pretty simple operating plan for dealing with bad guys: 1) Point. 2) Shoot. If those options are not available, they may be replaced with Stab, Punch or Kick.
You have to know a lot of the history from the earlier Joe Hunter books in order to get a good handle on him, and the places where Hilton pauses to catch you up on it show he's a lot better at writing Shoot, Punch, Stab or Kick than dialogue and exposition. The story is strangely disjointed, with characters and set pieces appearing for no real reason except to provide targets for the aforementioned Four Horsemen of the Joepocalypse. The Hunter novels don't do anything to single themselves out as really poorly written or executed, but they don't do much to single themselves out as better than average, either. You'll probably have a hard time recalling much of the book once the last page turns over.
Original available here.
Blood and Ashes is the fifth Joe Hunter novel from former police officer and security consultant Matt Hilton, and follows in its predecessors' path of action, action, action and then a little more action. Although technically not 100% following his injuries, Joe has a pretty simple operating plan for dealing with bad guys: 1) Point. 2) Shoot. If those options are not available, they may be replaced with Stab, Punch or Kick.
You have to know a lot of the history from the earlier Joe Hunter books in order to get a good handle on him, and the places where Hilton pauses to catch you up on it show he's a lot better at writing Shoot, Punch, Stab or Kick than dialogue and exposition. The story is strangely disjointed, with characters and set pieces appearing for no real reason except to provide targets for the aforementioned Four Horsemen of the Joepocalypse. The Hunter novels don't do anything to single themselves out as really poorly written or executed, but they don't do much to single themselves out as better than average, either. You'll probably have a hard time recalling much of the book once the last page turns over.
Original available here.
November 11, 2014
If "Blood and Ashes" was a cold cereal, it would be called snap, crackle and pop, pop, pop.
Ex-soldier, Joe Hunter, is asked for help from a former colleague, Don Griffiths who worked with Hunter in the past. They had taken down terrorist groups and stopped domestic terrorists before they could execute their schemes.
No sooner does Hunter arrive at the Griffiths' home then the action begins. He's forced to use close combat ability to dispose of two men who were watching Griffiths' home and decide to challenge him.
Later, Griffiths' family is attacked by a Neo-Nazi group who were supporters of a terrorist believed to be dead. Griffiths was instrumental in the trial and jailing of the leader of this group.
After a Rambo type display, Hunter rescues Griffiths' family. Afterwards, a new saga begins where Hunter must help stop a plot by the survivors of the Neo-Nazi group. They plan an action against Manhattan.
We learn little of the background of Hunter. He had been a member of a clandestine group and now, the groups part in the plot begins to come clear.
I would have liked the story to end sooner than it did. Also, instead of giving background of Hunter in the story, the author provides a description of him in a postscript to the novel.
I enjoyed the story but expected more.”
Ex-soldier, Joe Hunter, is asked for help from a former colleague, Don Griffiths who worked with Hunter in the past. They had taken down terrorist groups and stopped domestic terrorists before they could execute their schemes.
No sooner does Hunter arrive at the Griffiths' home then the action begins. He's forced to use close combat ability to dispose of two men who were watching Griffiths' home and decide to challenge him.
Later, Griffiths' family is attacked by a Neo-Nazi group who were supporters of a terrorist believed to be dead. Griffiths was instrumental in the trial and jailing of the leader of this group.
After a Rambo type display, Hunter rescues Griffiths' family. Afterwards, a new saga begins where Hunter must help stop a plot by the survivors of the Neo-Nazi group. They plan an action against Manhattan.
We learn little of the background of Hunter. He had been a member of a clandestine group and now, the groups part in the plot begins to come clear.
I would have liked the story to end sooner than it did. Also, instead of giving background of Hunter in the story, the author provides a description of him in a postscript to the novel.
I enjoyed the story but expected more.”
May 22, 2017
Quite enjoyable.
If you can overlook the similarities between Matt Hilton's Joe Hunter and Lee Child's Jack Reacher then this is quite a good novel. Admittedly the cover claim of "if you like Lee Child you'll love Matt Hilton" is what made me pick this book up, but I was struck by the number of correlations when I started the book. That aside, this is an enjoyable story and I can vouch for the cover claim - if you like Lee Child, you'll more than likely like this too.
If you can overlook the similarities between Matt Hilton's Joe Hunter and Lee Child's Jack Reacher then this is quite a good novel. Admittedly the cover claim of "if you like Lee Child you'll love Matt Hilton" is what made me pick this book up, but I was struck by the number of correlations when I started the book. That aside, this is an enjoyable story and I can vouch for the cover claim - if you like Lee Child, you'll more than likely like this too.
May 13, 2019
I have really enjoyed this series and this book was on my wishlist for a long time before I bought it as a wee treat for myself but I was quite disappointed! I raced through the first half, it was action packed literally with the drama coming thick and fast. But after the halfway point it tailed off a bit - it was a storyline I didn't engage with and didn't really care about but I'm definitely not put off reading more as this character has been up there with Lee Child's Jack Reacher for me.
June 17, 2018
Matt Hilton certainly gives us an exhilarating read in this fifth book in this great series. I think that he should have got a bit more professional advice about plutonium as he really did not know what he was talking about. Apart from that the story kept me completely engaged and excited.
March 8, 2019
Usual Matt Hilton as this is book 5 in the series, UK writer who has caught the style of US politics and covert opps, similar to Lee Child series but more worries and doubts are shown by the character Joe Hunter than Jack Reacher. Good thrill ride for the first 2/3rds.
December 20, 2018
I'm really loving the Joe Hunter series! A good series and character comparable to Jack Reacher.
June 23, 2019
Another good book in the series
December 31, 2019
Another great Joe Hunter book enjoyed it.
Nice read with a lot action. I enjoy the friendship of Hunter and Rink. Will read more of Matt Hilton
Nice read with a lot action. I enjoy the friendship of Hunter and Rink. Will read more of Matt Hilton
June 12, 2020
Nice thriller, though on expected lines
October 1, 2021
Too much testosterone and unimpressive twists in the story. It does start well but when the first major twist occurs it gets too silly.
October 23, 2022
good read
July 25, 2023
Less action when compared to previous novels. Lots of pondering by Joe Hunter.
July 31, 2023
excellent read.
March 5, 2017
A wonderful tale.
May 2, 2013
Yet again another fantastic read from Matt Hilton. If ever there was a series of books that should be made into movies then this is that series. Once again the action kicks off a few pages into the book and does not let up until the final page. What this means is the book is a fast paced, unputdownable read. Joe Hunter is fast becoming a favourite fictional character of mine, definitely up there with Ryan Lock. I would like the two to join forces one day! Together they would be unstoppable. That said however Lock and Hunter both have fantastic partners in Ty and Rink, both of whom I like.
The story in this book concerns an old associate of Hunter's who needs his help as he believes his family is in danger. I loved the opening of this book, probably one of my favourite openings in the series so far. This time Hunter questions his morals more and whether what he is doing is right or wrong. There are some nice twists throughout the book that I didn't see coming and I liked that we also learnt more about Hunter's past. I think a book set in Hunter's past would be fantastic or even just longer 'flashback' scenes to enhance whatever story he is involved in in the present day.
The one thing about this book was how real is could be. In the past I've found the Hunter series to verge on the unrealistic but I don't say that in a negative way, they are just so jam packed and action filled that it's hard to imagine scenarios like that actually happening, but to me the more action packed the better. It is fiction after all. But this time the idea of terrorists wanting to destroy a city is all too imaginable, especially in the world we live in now. There are some great characters in this book as well all of whom I found believable. I think Matt Hilton just keeps on improving with each book be it in his storytelling or character development but each book, to me at least, has been fantastic and I only wish I had read this series sooner. Then again the good thing about arriving late to the party is having the back catalogue to devour and not have to wait a year for the next one! Already got the next book lined up which I cannot wait to read as it has the return of a past character who I really liked.
The story in this book concerns an old associate of Hunter's who needs his help as he believes his family is in danger. I loved the opening of this book, probably one of my favourite openings in the series so far. This time Hunter questions his morals more and whether what he is doing is right or wrong. There are some nice twists throughout the book that I didn't see coming and I liked that we also learnt more about Hunter's past. I think a book set in Hunter's past would be fantastic or even just longer 'flashback' scenes to enhance whatever story he is involved in in the present day.
The one thing about this book was how real is could be. In the past I've found the Hunter series to verge on the unrealistic but I don't say that in a negative way, they are just so jam packed and action filled that it's hard to imagine scenarios like that actually happening, but to me the more action packed the better. It is fiction after all. But this time the idea of terrorists wanting to destroy a city is all too imaginable, especially in the world we live in now. There are some great characters in this book as well all of whom I found believable. I think Matt Hilton just keeps on improving with each book be it in his storytelling or character development but each book, to me at least, has been fantastic and I only wish I had read this series sooner. Then again the good thing about arriving late to the party is having the back catalogue to devour and not have to wait a year for the next one! Already got the next book lined up which I cannot wait to read as it has the return of a past character who I really liked.
February 19, 2013
About halfway through and it's kinda disappointing. The main character is very weak - an ex-special Forces type that doubts himself??? Really? Guys who do what Hunter has done don't doubt themselves. So far this is ok at best.
Also I hate when a writer writes about things he clearly knows very little about "... tugged out the first of two Glock 19s. Inside the bag were extra magazines and she expertly inserted one into the butt of the gun, racked the slide to arm it, then flicked on the safety." Really? Flicked off the safety. Neat trick for a gun that has no safety switch. Glocks have three internal safeties none of which you flick on or off. Weak.
OK, I'm done. This book got worse and worse as I read it. Weak characters, cliched plot, poor research.
I won't be reading another Hilton book.
Also I hate when a writer writes about things he clearly knows very little about "... tugged out the first of two Glock 19s. Inside the bag were extra magazines and she expertly inserted one into the butt of the gun, racked the slide to arm it, then flicked on the safety." Really? Flicked off the safety. Neat trick for a gun that has no safety switch. Glocks have three internal safeties none of which you flick on or off. Weak.
OK, I'm done. This book got worse and worse as I read it. Weak characters, cliched plot, poor research.
I won't be reading another Hilton book.
November 27, 2014
Blood and Ashes is my first Joe Hunter book but is actually the fifth in the series. It didn't seem to matter that I hadn't read the others and it stands alone, there were a few references to people in his past but they were explained sufficiently. There was a good level of action interspersed with story to hold it together. I was a bit bothered a couple of times when Hunter decided not to shoot for some random reason that seemed unlikely for his character to me, more as a holding together of the plot line. The relationship with Don was well done, complexities between them and Don's with his family changing Hunter's feelings about Don to a certain extent, nicely written.
An exciting, action packed book with a good ending.
An exciting, action packed book with a good ending.
January 3, 2016
The two-star rating is a measure of my enjoyment of the book, not the book itself. It's been on my TBR shelf for a couple of years and I'be begun it a couple of times but abandoned it, mainly because of the American setting and my preference for English/Scottish/Irish crime.
But neither is this precisely crime. Its theme is a little too wide a scale for me, political rather than personal. It's too shouty, too posturing, too much weaponry and gun battles. Done well enough, as is the tension and plotting, but outwith my preferred genre.
But neither is this precisely crime. Its theme is a little too wide a scale for me, political rather than personal. It's too shouty, too posturing, too much weaponry and gun battles. Done well enough, as is the tension and plotting, but outwith my preferred genre.
February 3, 2013
My first Matt Hilton book. It had everything I thought it would. Delivered on the dot. Fast paced, action packed, Neo-Nazi villains, ex-covert op heroes, Korean crime partners. Brutal & lots if killing. Lots of shades of gray in the government and its agencies and the top brass, no real happily ever after ending here.
June 12, 2015
Not the best Hunter book but an ok read if you are a fan.
This is a real shame as Cut and run was a tour de force and seemed that Hilton had really hit is stride with Joe Hunter and he could finally be regarded as up there with Mr Reacher and Lee Child on this evidence afraid not more pop than bang.
This is a real shame as Cut and run was a tour de force and seemed that Hilton had really hit is stride with Joe Hunter and he could finally be regarded as up there with Mr Reacher and Lee Child on this evidence afraid not more pop than bang.
April 28, 2013
Matt Hilton just gets better and better with his Joe Hunter series. If you like action, well-rounded characters and twists and turns in the plot line then this series is well worth reading. Can't wait to get my hands on the next book!
October 25, 2025
This plot had many twists and turns...one had trouble trying to figure out who the bad guys were. Even at the end of the story, some questions remained. All in all, good writing, good plot. An enjoyable read. Recommended
April 20, 2013
Joe Hunter kicking arse, always entertaining. This time Joe takes on home grown terrorism and may have pissed off a few people for future books. Awesome.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews